Paris Island 1963.
The first day of boot camp our DI asked us to vote whether to smoke or not. He explained how smoking would limit us physically because of the PT and of course double timing everywhere we went. Remember, “Hurry up and wait”. And all the other training, the rope clime, log PT,
the confidence course, etc…….
Our platoon overwhelmingly voted not to smoke. Of course I was not a smoker, but was pleased that everyone choose not to smoke.
At the end of bootcamp our DI gave the platoon permission to smoke.
The comment that was made by many was, “Wow, I forgot about smoking until now”.
We were so busy every day with training that the smokers did not realize that they had not smoked for 13 weeks.
Now that’s a way to give up smoking, enlist in the Marine Corps. š
Category: Marine Corps Stories
MARINEĀ OF THE WEEK // FIRST BLACK MARINE GENERAL & PILOT:
MARINEĀ OF THE WEEK // FIRST BLACK MARINE GENERAL & PILOT:
Lt. Gen. Petersen Jr., theĀ #MarineCorps‘ first black general and pilot, fought through racism to complete his flight training and a storied 38-year military career. He served in combat in Korea and Vietnam, completing more than 350 missions and 4,000 flying hours. During his deployment to Vietnam, his F-4 Phantom was shot down over the demitilitarized zone, sustaining injuries for which he received a Purple Heart. Among many awards, he also received a Distinguished Flying Cross. Petersen Jr. recently passed away at age of 83. (U.S. Marine Corps photos)
U.S. MARINE CRASH FIRE RESCUE JOINS SLINK FIRE BATTLE
U.S. Marine firefighters arrived on scene to support firefighting efforts for the Slink Fire near Coleville, California, SeptemberĀ 4.
The Marines, Crash Fire Rescue personnel with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, joined the interagency firefighting force that has been battling the Slink Fire since it started AugustĀ 29.
Boot Camp Story by Bill Ashworth
I was in Boot Camp at Parris Island in 1955 we started out in the wooden barracks 1stĀ bat. The Sr DI came in and said we were moving the 3rd Bat we moved in Quonset huts then we went to the rifle range we had the M1s while we were at the range one of our JR DIs cured me of smoking we were in Quonset huts after lights out like I said one of our JR DIs caught a guy smoking and the DI his name was Sgt Hatchel he told us to get out scrub buckets he marched us to the head and told us to light up I told him sir I donāt smoke and he told me tough sh,t one of the guys gave me a cig.Ā And we had to put the bucket over our heads and smoke the cig. And cured me from smoking.
0231
Have seen this before, not that way in July 1961 at SD. But, having heard “Hollywood Marine”, there was actually a movie filmed during boot canp with our platoon running the confidnce course in the background, with Tony Curtis as Ira Hayes, think it was filmed as The Last Man, but released as The Outsider. Honoring today one of our junior DIs, SGT E-4 J.J. McCormack from NY. Saw he was KIA in Vietnam as SSGT E-6. Saw him at I think Butler on Okinawa digging ditches as a PVT and told him he was too good a Marine for that, saw him maybe a year later on Okinawa as SGT E-5. God rest his soul.
The Hat From Hell
PI/67 Day 3
He had a Very Heavy Latin Accent, and appeared from out of nowhere.
āI Gon Kill One Of Jew Mudder Puckers An Noooooooo Baaaaaaady
Gon Kaaaaar.ā On the nights he had the duty he would get us out the racks an hour or two before Reveille. It was Game time, mostly he would Quiz you on the School Hat lessons, You better get it Right. He clocked a TURD so HARD one night the TURD next to him PUKED. SEMPER FI, LADIES
Bob Hope Show 1967
Senior Drill Instructor
THE FIRST WORDS THAT YOU WILL HEAR FROM YOUR SENIOR DRILL INSTRUCTOR
My name isĀ (Rank/Name). I am your Senior Drill Instructor. I am assisted in my duties by:Ā (Rank/Name)Ā andĀ (Rank/Name). Our mission is to train each one of you to become a United States Marine.
MARINEĀ OF THE WEEK:
MARINEĀ OF THE WEEK:
SHOT IN NECK, KEEPS FIGHTING
Lance Cpl. Cody Goebel
3rd Battalion, 5th Marines
Sangin, Afghanistan, Nov. 22, 2010
Award: Silver Star
While in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, Lance Cpl. Goebel was manning a security position in the southern Green Zone of Sangin District when he was struck in the neck by enemy small arms fire. Knocked to the ground and severely wounded at his post, he quickly picked himself up, remounted his machine gun, and engaged the enemy’s firing position with full knowledge that his position was critical to his squad’s defense. For seven minutes, he ignored his life threatening wounds and delivered devastating machine gun fire on the enemy’s position, all while refusing medical attention until he was properly relieved. Finally, but only after a fellow squad member had manned his machine gun, Goebel moved 25 meters under his own power and under heavy fire across the observation post’s roof and down a 20-foot ladder to the casualty collection point. Upon reaching the ground, he collapsed due to the loss of blood and had to be carried to a helicopter landing zone for subsequent medical evacuation. His courage, heroism, and dedication to duty after sustaining a life threatening injury resulted in the successful blocking of an enemy attack and six enemy fighters killed. (U.S. Marines photos by Sgt. Timothy Lenzo)
1st 72 hours in the Corps
o800 hours on April 5 1961 , as requested, was standing in front of the Post Office of my home town, waiting for my recruiter to pick me up drive me to his office in Nashville Tn and complete the enlistment process. On the way I mentioned something to him that I heard they harassed you some at P I. He at first acted like he didn’t know the meaning of the word and then said maybe for the first couple days but that I shouldn’t worry about it. Easy for him say. Got to the office and met up with 3 other guys from other towns in Middle Tn. Spent the day doing paper work, getting sworn and killing time . Some time in the late afternoon we were walked to the Railroad Station, given our orders, a couple meal tickets and instructions on how to find the bus depot in Atlanta and what time we better be there. Got to Atlanta early on the morning of the 6th and several hours to kill before our bus time in late afternoon. Passed a tattoo parlor and one of the other guys decided that since we were now in the Corps he would get a Devil Dog tattoo.